JP2019067133A - Information processing device, control method of information processing device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To store image data having no duplicate content in an information processing device.SOLUTION: An information processing device comprises: acquisition means acquiring metadata including a plurality of identifiers of image data from an external device; first determination means determining whether identifiers associated with image data held in holding means are the same as the identifiers acquired from the acquisition means; second determination means determining, if second image data associated with an identifier identical to an identifier associated with a first image acquired by the acquisition means is held in the holding means, whether metadata of the first image is the same as metadata of the second image; and determination means determining whether to acquire the first image data from the external device on the basis of the determination result of the second determination means. The information processing device deletes the second image data from the holding means when it is determined to acquire the first image date.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for storing image data acquired from an external apparatus.

  When a moving image or a still image is captured by a digital camera, the image data may be transferred to and stored in an information processing apparatus having a relatively large storage medium such as a photo storage or a personal computer.

  For this transfer of image data, there is a method in which direct communication is performed between the digital camera and the information processing apparatus, a method in which transfer is performed indirectly via a server on the Internet, and a removable storage medium is physically moved and transferred. There are multiple ways to do this.

  A case where a digital camera captures a new image after such transfer of image data and a new image data is generated will be considered. After that, when transferring to the information processing apparatus again, it is necessary to distinguish between the transferred image data and the untransferred image data (duplication determination processing) in order to avoid transfer of the image already stored. Although it is conceivable to manage the information as to whether or not the digital camera has transferred each image data for this duplication determination process, if there are a plurality of transfer destinations of the image data, it may be transferred for each transfer destination. It is difficult to realize because it must manage

  To address this problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which a digital camera assigns a unique identifier to each piece of image data, and transmits a list of the identifiers to the information processing apparatus to avoid unnecessary transfer of image data. ing.

JP 2001-309219 A

  In the above system, image data transfer between the digital camera and the information processing apparatus uses a different method depending on the transfer state, and the image data is converted according to the transfer method. The form of use is conceivable. For example, when transferring image data from a digital camera to an information processing apparatus at home while going out, the image data is reduced and then transferred via a server, and when transferred from a digital camera to an information processing apparatus at home, image data is transferred There is a scene where you can directly transfer In such a mode of use, even if the technology of Patent Document 1 is used, there are the following problems in the overlap determination processing in transfer of image data between the digital camera and the information processing apparatus.

  That is, assuming that the reduced image data and the original image data have different identifiers, both image data are transferred to the information processing apparatus, and data having the same image but different sizes overlap in the information processing apparatus. And there is a problem that it is stored. On the other hand, if the reduced image data and the original image data have the same identifier, only the image data transferred earlier among the reduced image data and the original image data is stored in the information processing apparatus. There is. This indicates that the original image data can not be stored if the reduced image data is transferred to the information processing apparatus first.

  In order to solve the above problems, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of recording a plurality of image data, and holds metadata including image data and an identifier associated with the image data. Holding means, acquisition means for acquiring metadata including identifiers of a plurality of image data from an external device, an identifier associated with image data held by the holding means, and the acquisition means The same identifier as the identifier associated with the first image acquired by the acquisition unit by the first determination unit. When the second image data determined to be associated is held by the holding unit, the other of the metadata of the first image excluding the identifier Determining means for determining whether the information and the other information excluding the identifier among the metadata of the second image are identical, and image data acquiring means for acquiring image data from the external device And a determination unit that determines whether to acquire the first image data from the external device by the image data acquisition unit based on the determination result of the second determination unit, and the second determination unit. When it is determined to acquire the first image data on the basis of the result of the determination in the above, the second image data is deleted from the holding means.

  Even when image data can be transferred to the information processing apparatus by different transfer methods, the information processing apparatus prevents transfer of duplicate data, and holds preferable image data without having a plurality of image data of different sizes. can do.

It is a block diagram showing composition of a photo storage and a digital camera in a first embodiment. It is a figure explaining the appearance of photo storage and a digital camera in a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the connection form of photo storage and a digital camera in 1st embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating metadata in a first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for describing an operation of the digital camera transmitting image data to the server device in the first embodiment. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating GUI of a digital camera in 1st embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the metadata at the time of a digital camera transmitting to a server apparatus in 1st embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for describing an operation of the photo storage acquiring image data from the server device in the first embodiment. FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement which photo storage acquires a digital camera or close image data in 1st embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation corresponding to acquisition of image data from the photo storage by the digital camera in the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart for describing an operation of the photo storage acquiring image data from a storage medium in the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

  Note that the embodiment described below is an example as implementation means of the present invention, and may be appropriately modified or changed depending on the configuration of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. Moreover, it is also possible to combine each embodiment suitably.

First Embodiment
In the first embodiment, the information processing apparatus of the present invention will be described as a photo storage incorporating a large capacity storage, and the external apparatus will be described as an example of a digital camera.

<Description of device>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a system using the information processing apparatus of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral A100 denotes a photo storage according to the present invention, which includes units of A101 to A112 described later. B 100 is a digital camera that can communicate with the photo storage according to the present invention using a wireless LAN function. C101 and C102 are wireless LAN access points, each having a function of communicating with A111 and B112 to be described later by wireless LAN. C103 is a schematic representation of the Internet. The wireless LAN access points C101 and C102 and a server device C104 described later are connected directly or indirectly to the Internet C103, and can communicate with each other. C104 is a server device, which can transmit, save, receive, delete, etc. data via the Internet. Since C101 to C104 are not devices constituting the present invention, the description of the internal configuration is omitted.

  The photo storage of the A100 will be described.

  In FIG. 1, a CPU A 101, a memory A 102, a non-volatile memory A 103, an IR receiving unit A 104, and a video output unit A 105 are connected to a system bus A 112. Furthermore, a storage medium I / F A 107, a large capacity storage A 109, a close proximity wireless communication unit A 110, and a wireless LAN unit A 111 are connected.

  A 101 is a CPU, which controls the photo storage. The CPU A 101 controls each unit to be described later, and outputs an image to the display device A 106, communicates with the digital camera B 100, accesses the data on the Internet, and the like in accordance with user settings and operations.

  A 102 is a rewritable memory, and a program for controlling the photo storage is used as a work area. It is also used as a buffer for storing image data received from the wireless LAN unit A 111 and video data to be output from the video output unit A 105. The memory A 102 is formed of, for example, a RAM (volatile memory using a semiconductor element) or the like.

  A103 is a non-volatile memory, which stores a program for controlling the present photo storage and data used by the program such as image data, character data, and other data. When power is supplied to the photo storage, the CPU A 101 reads a program from the non-volatile memory A 103 and starts control of the photo storage. The memory A 103 is made of, for example, a ROM (nonvolatile memory using a semiconductor element) or the like.

  A 105 is an IR (infrared) receiver, which is used by the photo storage to receive a user's instruction from a remote controller (not shown). The IR reception unit A 105 decodes the received infrared signal, and notifies the CPU A 101 of the operation content of a remote controller (not shown).

  Reference numeral A105 denotes a video output unit, which outputs a screen including an image or a graphical user interface (GUI) as a video signal to a display device A described later under the control of the CPU A101. The video output unit A 105 includes a display controller that controls the output timing of the video signal and a communication unit that actually outputs the video signal. The CPU A 101 generates display screen data in accordance with a program, and controls each unit of the photo storage such that the video output unit A 105 outputs a video signal to be displayed on the display device A 106.

  A106 is a display for displaying a video signal, and is connected to the video output unit A105 of the photo storage A100. When the display device A 106 receives the video signal output from the video output unit A 105, the display device A 106 decodes the signal and displays it as an image that can be viewed by the user. For example, a television or the like can be used as the video output unit A105. In the present embodiment, the display device A 106 is an external device of the photo storage A 100. However, the display device A 106 may be configured as a small liquid crystal panel in the photo storage A 100.

  A 107 is a storage medium I / F, and is an interface for mounting a storage medium A 108 such as a memory card. Based on the control of the CPU A 101, reading of data from the recording medium A 108 mounted on the storage medium I / F A 107 and writing of data to the recording medium A 108 are performed.

  A108 is a storage medium, which is a rewritable non-volatile memory for holding image data and the like.

  A109 is a mass storage, and is a unit for storing various data in the memory A102 under the control of the CPU A101. In addition, data stored in the mass storage A 109 can be read onto the memory A 102 under the control of the CPU A 101. For example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD) is used for the mass storage A109. In the present embodiment, the mass storage A 109 stores at least image data and metadata of the image data.

  A110 is a proximity wireless communication unit, which is a communication unit for realizing noncontact proximity communication. The close proximity wireless communication unit A110 includes an antenna for wireless communication, a modulation / demodulation circuit for processing a wireless signal, and a communication controller. The close proximity wireless communication unit A 110 outputs the modulated wireless signal from the antenna, and demodulates the wireless signal received by the antenna to realize non-contact proximity communication according to ISO / IEC 14443 or ISO / IEC 18092. In the present embodiment, when the proximity wireless communication unit A109 approaches the proximity wireless communication unit B111 of the digital camera B100 described later, detection of proximity / separation of the digital camera B100, transmission of communication parameters used in the wireless LAN unit A111, etc. Used for

A 111 is a wireless LAN unit, which is a communication unit for realizing long-distance wireless communication than the close proximity wireless communication unit A 110. The wireless LAN unit A 111 includes an antenna for wireless communication and a communication controller for processing wireless signals, and implements wireless communication in accordance with IEEE 802.11a · b · g · n · ac. In this embodiment, it is used when performing data communication with a wireless LAN unit B112 of a digital camera B100 described later, or with a terminal on the Internet C103 via the wireless LAN access point C101.
A112 is a system bus, and each unit connected to the system bus A112 can exchange data with each other via the system bus A112.

  The digital camera of B will be described.

  B101 is a CPU, which controls the entire digital camera. The CPU B 101 controls each unit described later, and records an image according to the setting and operation of the user.

  B 102 is a rewritable memory, and a program for controlling the digital camera is used as a work area. The memory B102 is made of, for example, a RAM (volatile memory using a semiconductor element) or the like.

  A non-volatile memory B103 stores a program for controlling the present digital camera and data used by the program, such as image data, audio data, and other data. When the digital camera is powered on, the CPU B 101 reads a program from the non-volatile memory B 103 and starts control of the digital camera. The non-volatile memory B103 is made of, for example, a ROM (non-volatile memory using a semiconductor element) or the like.

  An operation unit B104 is used to transmit a user's instruction to the digital camera. The operation unit B 104 includes a plurality of buttons, a dial, and the like.

  Reference numeral B105 denotes a display unit, which displays an image or a GUI screen forming a graphical user interface (GUI), based on control of the CPU B101. The display unit B 105 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) and an LCD driver unit that controls the liquid crystal display (LCD). The CPU B101 generates a display control signal according to a program, generates an image signal to be displayed on the display unit B105, and controls each unit of the digital camera B100 to output the image signal to the display unit B105. The display unit B 105 displays an image based on the output image signal.

  A storage medium I / F B106 is an interface for mounting a storage medium B107 such as a memory card. Based on the control of the CPU B101, reading of data from the recording medium B107 mounted on the storage medium I / F B106 and writing of data to the recording medium B107 are performed.

  A storage medium B107 is a rewritable non-volatile memory for holding captured image data.

  An imaging unit B108 converts a video (light) into an electrical video signal based on the control of the CPU B101, and outputs the video signal to the internal bus B113. The imaging unit B108 includes, for example, an optical lens unit, an optical system for controlling an aperture, zoom, and focus, and an imaging element for converting light (image) introduced through the optical lens unit into an electrical video signal. Configured Generally, a CMOS image sensor (CMOS image sensor) using a CMOS or a CCD image sensor (CCD image sensor) using a CCD is generally used as the image sensor.

  An image processing unit B109 performs various types of image processing on image data stored in the non-volatile memory B103 or the recording medium B107 and a video signal output from the imaging unit B108 under the control of the CPU B101. For image processing performed by the image processing unit B 109, A / D conversion processing, D / A conversion processing, image data encoding processing, compression processing, decoding processing, enlargement / reduction processing (resize), noise reduction processing, color conversion Processing, face detection processing, etc. are included. The image processing unit B109 may be configured by a dedicated circuit block for performing specific image processing. Also, depending on the type of image processing, the CPU B 101 can perform image processing according to a program without using the image processing unit B 109.

  A battery B110 is a unit for supplying power for operating the digital camera B100. The battery B110 is a unit formed of a rechargeable secondary battery, and can be charged by an external battery charger (not shown).

  A close proximity wireless communication unit B111 is a communication unit for realizing noncontact close proximity communication. The close proximity wireless communication unit B 111 includes an antenna for wireless communication, a modulation / demodulation circuit for processing a wireless signal, and a communication controller. The close proximity wireless communication unit B 111 outputs the modulated wireless signal from the antenna, and demodulates the wireless signal received by the antenna to realize non-contact proximity communication in accordance with ISO / IEC 14443 or ISO / IEC 18092. In the present embodiment, when the proximity wireless communication unit B111 approaches the proximity wireless communication unit A110 of the above-described mobile phone A100, the proximity / separation of the mobile phone A100 is detected. The close proximity wireless communication unit B111 is also used to receive communication parameters used in the wireless LAN unit A111, and transmit and receive connection information between the photo storage A100 and the digital camera B100.

  A wireless LAN unit B112 is a communication unit for realizing long-distance wireless communication than the close proximity wireless communication unit B111. The wireless LAN unit B 112 includes an antenna for wireless communication and a communication controller for processing a wireless signal, and implements wireless communication in accordance with IEEE 802.11a · b · g · n · ac. In this embodiment, it is used when performing data communication with the wireless LAN unit A 111 of the above-described mobile phone A 100 or with a terminal on the Internet E 100 via the wireless LAN access point C 102.

  B113 is a system bus, and each unit connected to the system bus B113 can exchange data with each other via the system bus B113.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing the appearance of the photo storage A100 and the digital camera B100.

  FIG. 2A shows the appearance of the photo storage A100.

  Reference numeral 201 denotes an appearance of the IR receiving unit A104, and an infrared signal emitted from a remote controller operated by the user is received by the IR receiving unit A104 through this.

  Reference numeral 202 denotes a slot for mounting the storage medium A108. When the storage medium A 108 is mounted here, the storage medium I / F A 107 enables reading and writing of the storage medium A 108.

  Reference numeral 203 denotes an appearance of the close proximity wireless communication unit A110. When a device compatible with close proximity wireless communication approaches here, communication with the device becomes possible via the close proximity wireless communication unit A110.

  FIG. 2B shows the appearance (rear side) of the digital camera B100.

  A power button 204 constitutes an operation unit B104. The power button 204 can turn on / off the power of the digital camera B100.

  Reference numeral 205 denotes a shutter button, which constitutes an operation unit B104. The shutter button 2015 is a two-step push-in switch that can detect a half-pressed state and a fully-pressed state and detect it, and when the shutter-pressed state is started, autofocus control is started. The photographing operation for photographing the image can be started.

  An LCD 206 is used to determine the composition before the start of shooting, display an operation menu for operating the digital camera B 100, and reproduce and display captured video data. Configure B105.

  Reference numeral 207 denotes a button group constituting the operation unit B104. The user uses these buttons to display the menu of the digital camera B 100 and set various parameters.

  A wireless LAN cooperation button 208 constitutes an operation unit B104. A wireless LAN cooperation button 208 can display a GUI for transmitting image data in the storage medium B 107 by wireless LAN.

  Reference numeral 209 denotes a play button, which constitutes an operation unit B104. The image data in the storage medium B 107 can be displayed on the LCD 206 by the playback button 209.

  A delete button 210 constitutes an operation unit B104. By the delete button 210, the image data being displayed on the LCD 206 can be deleted from the storage medium B107.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the connection relationship of the photo storage A100, the display device A106, the digital camera B100, the wireless LAN access points C101 and C102, the Internet C103, and the server device C104.

  FIG. 3A is a diagram in the case of transmitting image data from the digital camera B100 to the photo storage A100 via the Internet. This connection relationship assumes, for example, the case where image data is transferred from the digital camera B100 brought out to the place outside to the photo storage A100 installed at home.

  In FIG. 3A, the image data transferred from the digital camera B100 to the photo storage A100 is transferred to the server device C103 via the wireless LAN access point C102 and the Internet C103, and is held by the server device C103. The photo storage A 100 periodically communicates with the server device C 103 via the wireless LAN access point C 101 and the Internet C 103 to check whether the server device C 103 has image data. If the server device C103 has image data, the image data is downloaded, and then the image data is deleted from the server device C103. Thus, image data can be transferred from the digital camera B100 to the photo storage A100. The detailed operations of the photo storage A 100 and the digital camera B 100 in this connection mode will be described later using the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 8.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram in the case of transmitting image data directly from the digital camera B100 to the photo storage A100. This connection relation assumes that image data is transferred from the digital camera B100 at home where the photo storage A100 is installed.

  In the connection relationship of FIG. 3B, when the proximity wireless communication unit A100 of the photo storage A100 and the proximity wireless communication unit B100 of the digital camera B100 are brought close to each other, the photo storage A100 operates with the wireless LAN unit A111 as a wireless LAN access point. Let On the other hand, the digital camera B100 controls the wireless LAN unit B112 to connect to the wireless LAN unit A111 operating as a wireless LAN access point. As a result, the photo storage A 100 and the digital camera B 100 can directly communicate with each other via the wireless LAN. Information (SSID, password, etc.) necessary for setting the wireless LAN unit B 112 is notified from the photo storage A 100 to the digital camera B 100 by the close proximity wireless communication unit A 110.

  When the photo storage A 100 and the digital camera B 100 can directly communicate with each other via a wireless LAN, image data can be transferred from the digital camera B 100 to the photo storage A 100 using a data exchange protocol. As a data exchange protocol, PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol), HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), etc. can be used.

  The detailed operation of the photo storage A 100 and the digital camera B 100 in this connection mode will be described later using the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 and 10.

  FIG. 3C will be described in the second embodiment.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of metadata of image data.

  FIG. 4A shows an example of metadata of a still image. The metadata of still images includes information at the time of shooting such as shooting date, information as a file such as file size, information indicating characteristics of still images such as resolution, and information on the shooting equipment such as manufacturer and model name. In addition to the information, a unique ID 401 is included.

  The unique ID 401 is a 128-bit identifier associated with each image data. Since different unique IDs are assigned to the respective image data, it becomes possible to specify the image data using the unique ID. In the present embodiment, UUID (Univerally Unique Identifier) is used as the unique ID.

  FIG. 4 (b) is an example of metadata of a moving image. Similar to the case of a still image, metadata of a moving image includes information at the time of shooting such as shooting date and time, and information as a file such as a file size. Furthermore, unique ID 402 is included in addition to the information indicating the characteristics of the moving image such as resolution and bit rate, and the information on the photographing equipment such as the manufacturer and model name.

<Description of operation>
The operation of the photo storage A 100 of the present invention and the digital camera B 100 capable of communicating with the photo storage A 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When data transmission / data reception / data deletion is performed on the server device C104, an ID and a password are required. The method of setting the ID and the password in the photo storage A 100 and the digital camera B 100 is not directly related to the present invention, and thus is already set (stored in the non-volatile memory A 103 and the non-volatile memory B 103).

  Similarly, in order to connect to the wireless LAN access points C101 and C102, an SSID and a password are required, and these pieces of information are stored in the non-volatile memories A103 and B103.

  First, the operation of the digital camera B100 in the connection mode of FIG. 3A will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 5, and the operation of the photo storage A100 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart when the digital camera B 100 transmits image data to the server apparatus C 104 on the Internet in the connection mode of FIG. 3A. When the play button 209 is pressed in the digital camera B100, this flowchart is started.

  In step S501, the CPU B101 accesses the storage medium B 107 via the storage medium I / F B 106, and reads the latest image data of the image data stored in the storage medium B 107 into the memory B102.

  In step S502, the CPU B 101 converts the image data read into the memory B 102 in step S501 or step S504 described later into a format that can be displayed on the display unit B 105 using the image processing unit B 109, and displays the image in the display unit B 105. indicate.

  In step S503, the CPU B 101 monitors the operation unit B 104 and waits for detection of a user operation.

  If it is determined in step S503 that pressing of either the left or right button of the button group 207 is detected as a user operation, the process proceeds to step S504. If the depression of the wireless LAN cooperation button 208 is detected, the process proceeds to step S505. If the depression (or half depression) of the shutter button 205 is detected, the process proceeds to step S513. When the pressing of the power button 204 is detected, this flowchart ends.

  In step S 504, the CPU B 101 stores either image data captured immediately before the image data currently displayed or image data captured immediately after the image data in response to pressing of the left and right buttons of the button group 207. The memory B102 is read from the memory B102. When step S504 ends, the process moves to step S502. As a result, the image data read in step S504 is displayed on the display unit B105.

  In step S505, the CPU B 101 displays a GUI for selecting a transmission destination on the display unit B 105, and waits for the user to select a selection destination of image data.

  FIG. 6 is a GUI used in step S505.

  A photo storage icon 601 and a smartphone icon 602 are displayed on the display unit B 105 as a transmission destination, and the selection frame 603 can be adjusted to either one by the left and right buttons of the button group 207. When the center button of the button group 207 is pressed in a state in which the selection frame 603 is aligned with one of the selection frames 603, one having the selection frame 603 aligned is selected as a transmission destination.

  Returning to FIG. 5, in step S505, when the photo storage icon 601 is selected, the process proceeds to step S506, and when the smartphone icon is selected, the process proceeds to step S512.

  Steps S506 to S511 are processing for transmitting image data from the digital camera B100 to the server device C104.

  In step S506, the CPU B 101 reduces the image data read into the memory B 102 using the image processing unit B 109 and generates new image data in the memory B 102. Image data can be reduced by reducing the resolution (reducing the number of pixels) or improving the compression rate. In this embodiment, when the image data is a still image, the resolution is reduced, and when the image data is a moving image, the image data is reduced by reducing the resolution and improving the moving image compression rate.

  In step S507, the CPU B 101 generates, in the memory B 102, the metadata of the image data reduced in step S508. The metadata generated here is different from the metadata of the image data before reduction only in the part affected by the reduction processing. FIG. 7A is an example of metadata generated when image data of a still image having the metadata of FIG. 4A is reduced. Since resolution reduction processing is performed on the still image in step S506, the file size 701 and the resolution 702 are changed as compared with FIG. 4A. FIG. 7B shows an example of metadata generated when image data of a moving image having the metadata of FIG. 4B is reduced. Since the process of reducing the resolution and improving the compression rate are performed in step S506 for the moving image, the file size 703, the resolution 704, and the bit rate 705 are changed. The generated metadata is stored in the memory B 102 in a format such as an XML format or a JSON format.

  In step S508, the CPU B101 sets the wireless LAN B unit B112 to connect to the access point C102. Specifically, information (SSID and password) related to the wireless LAN access point C102 is read from the non-volatile memory B103, and the information is used to connect to the wireless LAN access point C102.

  In step S509, the CPU B 101 accesses the server apparatus C 104 using the ID and password stored in the non-volatile memory B 103, and transmits (uploads) the reduced image data generated in step S506. When the image data is uploaded, the server apparatus C 104 stores the image data as a downloadable state.

  In step S510, the CPU B 101 transmits the metadata generated in step S507 to the server apparatus C 104 as in step S508. When the metadata is uploaded, the server apparatus C 104 stores the metadata as a downloadable state.

  In step S511, the CPU B101 controls the wireless LAN unit B112 to disconnect the connection with the wireless LAN access point C102.

  Step S512 is processing for transmitting image data from the digital camera B100 to a smartphone (not shown). Since this process is not a process according to the present invention, the description will be omitted.

  In step S 513, the CPU B 101 initializes the imaging unit B 108 and immediately brings the digital camera B 100 into a state in which shooting is possible by pressing the shutter button 205.

  As described above, according to FIG. 5, in the connection mode of FIG. 3A, the digital camera B 100 can transmit the image data and the metadata thereof to the server device C 104 on the Internet.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart when the photo storage A 100 acquires image data from the server C 104 on the Internet in the connection mode of FIG. 3A. The photo storage A 100 starts the operation of this flowchart immediately after the power is turned on.

  Note that, before executing the flowchart of FIG. 8, the CPU A 101 connects the wireless LAN unit A 111 to the wireless LAN access point C 101 using the information of the wireless LAN access point C 101 stored in the non-volatile memory A 103. Do.

  In step S801, the CPU A 101 accesses the server apparatus C 104 using the ID and password stored in the non-volatile memory A 103, and determines whether there is downloadable image data. Here, the downloadable image data refers to the image data uploaded in step S509 in the flowchart of FIG. If there is image data that can be downloaded, the process proceeds to step S802. If not, the process waits for a predetermined time and then repeats step S801.

  In step S802, the CPU A 101 downloads metadata of image data from the server device C 104, and stores the metadata in the memory A 102. The metadata to be downloaded here is the metadata uploaded in step S510 in the flowchart of FIG. For example, data of contents as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B are downloaded from the server apparatus C104.

  In step S803, the CPU A 101 acquires a unique ID from the metadata downloaded in step S802, and investigates whether or not image data of the same unique ID exists in the large-capacity storage A 109. For example, when the metadata downloaded in step S802 is FIG. 7A, it is assumed that the metadata of FIG. 4A is stored in the large-capacity storage A 109. At this time, since the unique ID 401 matches the unique ID 706, it is determined that the image data with the same unique ID exists in the large-capacity storage A 109. If there is no image data with the same unique ID, the process proceeds to step S804. If there is image data, the process proceeds to step S807.

  In step S804, the CPU A 101 downloads image data corresponding to the metadata acquired in step S802 from the server apparatus C 104, and stores the image data in the memory A 102.

  In step S805, the CPU A 101 stores the metadata acquired in step S802 and the image data acquired in step S804 in the large-capacity storage A 109.

  In step S806, the CPU A 101 accesses the server device C 104, and makes a request to delete the metadata acquired in step S 802 and the image data acquired in step S 804 from the server device C 104.

  Through the processing of steps S801 to S806, the image data and the metadata thereof transmitted in the processing of the flowcharts S506 to S511 in FIG. 5 are transferred from the digital camera B100 to the photo storage A100 via the server device C104. As a result, the image data is stored in the large capacity storage A 109.

  On the other hand, in step S807, the CPU A 101 compares the resolution included in the metadata acquired in step S802 with the resolution included in the metadata having the same unique ID in the mass storage A 109 found in step S803. As a result of comparing the resolutions, if it is determined that the resolution of the metadata on the side of the server apparatus C 104 acquired in step S 802 is low, the process proceeds to step S 806 and the image data on the server apparatus C 104 is deleted without downloading. If the resolutions are the same, the process advances to step S808 to compare the next metadata. If it is determined that the server-side resolution is large, the process advances to step S811 to enter image data acquisition processing from the server apparatus C104.

  In step S808, the CPU A 101 confirms the media type (708 or 709) of the metadata acquired in step S802, and determines whether the image data on the server apparatus C 104 confirmed in step S801 is a moving image. If the image data is moving image data, the process proceeds to step S809. If the image data is a still image, the process proceeds to step S810.

  In step S809, the CPU A 101 compares the bit rate included in the metadata acquired in step S802 with the bit rate included in the metadata having the same unique ID in the large-capacity storage A 109 found in step S803. As a result of comparing the bit rates, if it is determined that the bit rate of the metadata on the server side acquired in step S802 is low, the process proceeds to step S806, and the image data on the server apparatus C104 is deleted without being downloaded. If the bit rates are the same, the process proceeds to step S810 to compare the next metadata. If it is determined that the bit rate on the server side is high, the process proceeds to step S811 to enter image data acquisition processing from the server apparatus C104.

  In step S810, the CPU A 101 compares the file size included in the metadata acquired in step S802 with the file size included in the metadata having the same unique ID in the large-capacity storage A 109 found in step S803. If it is determined that the file size of the metadata on the server side acquired in step S802 is small as a result of comparing the file sizes, the process advances to step S806 to delete the image data on the server apparatus C 104 without downloading it. If the file size on the server side is large, the process advances to step S811 to enter image data acquisition processing from the server apparatus C104.

  Steps S811 and S812 are the same as steps S804 and 805, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  In step S813, the CPU A 101 deletes the image data of the same unique ID as the unique ID in the metadata downloaded in step S802 and the metadata thereof from the large-capacity storage A 109.

  Through the processing of steps S811 to S813, the image data and the metadata thereof transmitted in the processing of the flowcharts S506 to S511 in FIG. 5 are transferred from the digital camera B100 to the photo storage A100 via the server device C104. Then, it is replaced with the image data of the same unique ID in the large capacity storage A 109 and stored.

  As described above, according to FIG. 8, in the connection mode of FIG. 3A, the photo storage A 100 can receive image data and its metadata from the server device C 104 on the Internet. Here, in consideration of the flowchart of FIG. 5, the image data of the server device C100 is the reduced image data transmitted by the digital camera B100. Therefore, the reduced image data and the metadata thereof are transmitted from the digital camera B100 to the photo storage A100 via the server device C104.

  Next, the operation of the photo storage A 100 in the connection mode of FIG. 3B will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 9, and the operation of the digital camera B 100 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart when the photo storage A 100 acquires image data from the digital camera B 100 in the connection mode of FIG. 3 (b).

  In step S901, the CPU A 101 waits for the proximity wireless communication unit A 110 to detect the proximity wireless communication unit B 111 of the digital camera B 100.

  In step S902, the CPU A 101 is configured to operate the wireless LAN unit A 111 as a wireless LAN access point. The connection information (SSID and password) of the wireless LAN access point may be a predetermined fixed value, or may be randomly generated each time the digital camera B 100 is detected.

  In step S 903, the CPU A 101 notifies the digital camera B 100 of information for connecting to the wireless LAN unit A 111 operating as a wireless LAN access point through the close proximity wireless communication unit A 110.

  In step S904, the CPU A 101 connects the wireless LAN unit B 112 of the digital camera B 100 to the wireless LAN unit A 111 operating as a wireless LAN access point, and waits for communication to be established. When communication between the wireless LAN unit A 111 and the wireless LAN unit B 112 is established, all communication between the photo storage A 100 and the digital camera B 100 thereafter is performed between the wireless LAN unit A 111 and the wireless LAN unit B 112.

  In step S 905, the CPU A 101 acquires a list of unique IDs of image data stored in the storage medium B 107 of the digital camera B 100 through the wireless LAN unit A 111. Acquisition of the list of unique IDs may be realized by one communication, or may be acquired by performing communication multiple times. Further, as in the case of step S 910 described later, the acquisition of the unique ID is realized so that metadata of image data is acquired from the digital camera B 100 and the CPU A 101 extracts the unique ID from the metadata. Good.

  Steps S906 to S918 are loop processing, and the CPU A 101 sequentially applies the processing of steps S907 to S917 to each unique ID acquired in step S905.

  In step S 907, the CPU A 101 checks whether image data of the same unique ID exists in the large-capacity storage A 109 for the unique ID to which the loop process is applied. If the image data with the same unique ID does not exist, the process proceeds to step S 908. If it exists, the process proceeds to step S 910.

  In step S 908, the CPU A 101 acquires image data corresponding to the unique ID to which the loop process is applied from the digital camera B 100 through the wireless LAN unit A 111 and stores the image data in the memory A 102.

  In step S909, the CPU A 101 stores the metadata acquired in step S907 and the image data acquired in step S804 in the large-capacity storage A 109.

  On the other hand, in step S 910, the CPU A 101 acquires metadata of image data corresponding to the unique ID to which loop processing is applied from the digital camera B 100 through the wireless LAN unit A 111 and stores the acquired metadata in the memory A 102. For example, data of contents as shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are acquired from the digital camera B100.

  In step S911, the CPU A 101 compares the resolution contained in the metadata acquired in step S910 with the resolution contained in the metadata having the same unique ID in the mass storage A 109 found in step S907. As a result of comparing the resolutions, if it is determined that the resolution of the metadata on the digital camera B 100 side acquired in step S 910 is low, the process proceeds to step S 918 and loop end determination processing without acquiring image data in the digital camera B 100 Go to If the resolutions are the same, the process proceeds to step S912 to compare the next metadata. If it is determined that the resolution is large, the process proceeds to step S915 to enter image data acquisition processing from the digital camera B100.

  In step S912, the CPU A 101 confirms the media type of the metadata acquired in step S910, and determines whether the image data corresponding to the unique ID to which the loop process is applied is a moving image. If the image data is moving image data, the process proceeds to step S913. If the image data is a still image, the process proceeds to step S914.

  In step S913, the CPU A 101 compares the bit rate included in the metadata acquired in step S910 with the bit rate included in the metadata having the same unique ID in the mass storage A 109 found in step S907. As a result of comparing the bit rates, if it is determined that the bit rate of the metadata acquired in step S 910 is low, the process proceeds to step S 918, and the process proceeds to loop end determination processing without acquiring image data in the digital camera B 100. If the bit rates are the same, the process proceeds to step S 914 to compare the next metadata. If it is determined that the bit rate is high, the process proceeds to step S 915 to enter image data acquisition processing from the digital camera B 100.

  In step S914, the CPU A 101 compares the file size included in the metadata acquired in step S910 with the file size included in the metadata having the same unique ID in the mass storage A 109 found in step S907. As a result of comparing the file sizes, if the file size in the metadata acquired in step S910 is the same as in the case where the file size is small, the process advances to step S918 to proceed to loop end determination processing without acquiring image data in the digital camera B100. If the file size in the metadata acquired in step S910 is large, the process advances to step S915 to enter image data acquisition processing from the digital camera B100.

  Steps S 915 to S 916 are the same as steps S 908 and S 909, so the description will be omitted.

  In step S 917, the CPU A 101 deletes, from the large-capacity storage A 109, the image data and metadata of the same unique ID as the unique ID to which the loop process is applied.

  By the processing from step S 915 to step S 917, the image data acquired from the digital camera B 200 is stored in the mass storage A 109 instead of the image data stored in the mass storage A 109 until then.

  In step S918, the CPU A 101 determines whether to end the loop processing starting from step S906. Specifically, it is determined whether the processing in steps S 907 to S 917 is completed for all the unique IDs acquired in step S 905. If all unique IDs have been processed, the process proceeds to step S919. If there is a unique ID not processed, the process returns to step S906 to process the next unique ID.

  In step S 919, the CPU A 101 notifies the digital camera B 100 that the connection is ended via the wireless LAN unit A 111.

  In step S920, the CPU A 101 deactivates the wireless LAN access point function activated in step S902, and terminates all connection with the digital camera B 100.

  Subsequently, FIG. 10 is a flowchart when the digital camera B100 responds to the request from the photo storage A100 in the connection configuration of FIG. 3B.

  In step S1001, the CPU B101 waits for the proximity wireless communication unit B111 to detect the proximity wireless communication unit A110 of the photo storage A100. This step corresponds to step S901 in the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S1002, the CPU B101 acquires information (SSID and password) for connecting to the wireless LAN unit A111 of the photo storage A100 operating as a wireless LAN access point through the close proximity wireless communication unit B111. This step corresponds to step S903 in the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S1003, the CPU B101 sets the wireless LAN unit B112 based on the information acquired in step S1002, and connects the wireless LAN unit B112 to the wireless LAN unit A111. This step corresponds to step S904 in the flowchart of FIG. When communication between the wireless LAN unit A 111 and the wireless LAN unit B 112 is established, all communication between the photo storage A 100 and the digital camera B 100 thereafter is performed between the wireless LAN unit A 111 and the wireless LAN unit B 112.

  In step S1004, the CPU B101 monitors data received by the wireless LAN unit B112, and determines whether a command has been received from the photo storage A100. If the received command is the “unique ID list acquisition” command transmitted in step S905 of FIG. 9, the process advances to step S1005. If the received command is the “metadata acquisition” command transmitted in step S 910 in FIG. 9, the process advances to step S 1007. If the received command is an "image data acquisition" command transmitted in steps S908 and S915 in FIG. 9, the process proceeds to step S1009. If the received command is the “end of connection” command transmitted in step S919 of FIG. 9, the process proceeds to step S1011.

  In step S1005, the CPU B 101 accesses the storage medium B 107 via the storage medium I / F B 106, acquires unique IDs of all image data of the storage medium B 107, and stores the unique IDs in the memory B 102.

  In step S1006, the CPU B 101 transmits the list of unique IDs stored in the memory B 102 in step S1005 to the photo storage A 100 via the wireless LAN unit B 112. When this step is completed, the process returns to step S1004 to wait for the next command from the photo storage A100.

  In step S1007, the CPU B101 acquires metadata of image data corresponding to the unique ID requested from the photo storage A100 from the storage medium B107 via the storage medium I / F B106, and stores the metadata in the memory A102. Do.

  In step S1008, the CPU B 101 transmits the metadata stored in the memory B 102 in step S1007 to the photo storage A 100 via the wireless LAN unit B 112. When this step is completed, the process returns to step S1004 to wait for the next command from the photo storage A100.

  In step S1009, the CPU B 101 acquires image data corresponding to the unique ID requested from the photo storage A 100 from the storage medium B 107 via the storage medium I / F B 106, and stores the image data in the memory A 102.

  In step S1010, the CPU B 101 transmits the image data stored in the memory B 102 in step S1009 to the photo storage A 100 via the wireless LAN unit B 112. When this step is completed, the process returns to step S1004 to wait for the next command from the photo storage A100.

  In step S1011, the CPU B101 changes the setting of the wireless LAN unit B112, and ends the connection with the wireless LAN unit A111 of the photo storage A100 established in step S1003. When this step ends, the process returns to step S1001 to wait for the next detection by the close proximity wireless transfer unit B111.

  As described above, according to FIGS. 9 and 10, in the connection form of FIG. 3B, when there is no image data having the same unique ID in the large-capacity storage A109, the photo storage A100 transmits the image data to the digital camera B100. Can be obtained directly from If image data having the same unique ID exists, metadata is compared, and image data is acquired from the digital camera B 100 as necessary, and replaced with existing image data in the large-capacity storage A 109. It can be saved.

  Therefore, even if the photo storage A 100 has already received the reduced image data and metadata via the server device C 104, the photo storage A 100 can directly acquire the non-reduced image data from the digital camera B 100. Therefore, even when image data can be transferred by different transfer methods, the photo storage A 100 can prevent transfer of overlapping data, and can hold desirable image data without having a plurality of image data of different sizes.

Second Embodiment
In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the information processing apparatus of the present invention is a photo storage incorporating a large capacity storage, and the external apparatus is a digital camera.

  In the description of the present embodiment, parts different from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

<Description of device>
The block diagram of the entire system, the appearance of each device, and the example of metadata are the same as those in the first embodiment of FIGS.

  The connection diagram for transmitting image data from the digital camera B100 to the photo storage A100 via the Internet is the same as that in the first embodiment of FIG.

  FIG. 3C is a diagram in the case of transferring image data from the digital camera B100 to the photo storage A100 via the storage medium. This connection relationship assumes that the user inserts and removes a memory card to transfer image data when transferring image data from the digital camera B 100 at home where the photo storage A 100 is installed.

  In the connection relationship of FIG. 3C, the user disconnects the storage medium B 107 in which the image data is stored from the digital camera B 100, and mounts the storage medium B 107 as a storage medium A 108 in the photo storage A 100.

  The detailed operation of the photo storage A 100 in this connection mode will be described later with reference to FIG.

<Description of operation>
The operation of the photo storage A 100 of the present invention and the digital camera B 100 capable of communicating with the photo storage A 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The operations of the photo storage A 100 and the digital camera B 100 in FIG. 3A are the same as those in FIGS. 5 to 8 of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the operation of the photo storage A 100 in the connection mode of FIG. 3C will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S1101, the CPU A 101 monitors the state of the storage medium I / FA 107 and waits for the storage medium A 108 to be loaded.

  In step S1102, the CPU A 101 accesses the storage medium A 108 via the storage medium I / F A 107, and acquires a file list in the storage medium A 108.

  Steps S1103 to S1116 are loop processes, and the CPU A 101 sequentially applies the processes of steps S1104 to S1115 to the files acquired in step S1102.

  In step S1104, the CPU A 101 determines whether the file to which loop processing is applied is image data. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the extension of the file name is a predetermined extension. If it is not an image file, the process advances to step S1116 to proceed to loop end determination processing without acquiring image data in the storage medium A108.

  In step S1105, the CPU A 101 acquires metadata from the file (image data) to which the loop process is applied. Specifically, the file is analyzed and only metadata in the file is extracted. For example, if the image data is a still image in JPEG format, an area called an EXIF header is extracted.

  In step S1106, the CPU A 101 checks whether image data of the same unique ID exists in the large-capacity storage A 109 with respect to the unique ID of the file to which loop processing is applied. If the image data of the same unique ID does not exist, the process proceeds to step S1107. If the image data exists, the process proceeds to step S1109.

  In step S1107, the CPU A 101 reads the file to which the loop processing is applied as image data from the storage medium A 108 and stores the file in the memory A 102.

  In step S1108, the CPU A 101 stores the metadata acquired in step S1105 and the image data acquired in step S1108 in the mass storage A 109.

  On the other hand, in step S1109, the CPU A 101 compares the resolution included in the metadata acquired in step S1105 with the resolution included in the metadata having the same unique ID in the mass storage A 109 found in step S1106. As a result of comparing the resolutions, if it is determined that the resolution of the metadata acquired in step S1105 is low, the process proceeds to step S1116, and the process proceeds to loop end determination processing without acquiring the image data in the storage medium A108. If the resolutions are the same, the process advances to step S1110 to compare the next metadata, and if it is determined that the resolution is large, the process advances to step S1113 to enter image data acquisition processing from the storage medium A108.

  In step S1110, the CPU A 101 confirms the media type of the metadata acquired in step S1105, and determines whether the file to which loop processing is applied is moving image data. If it is moving image data, the process proceeds to step S1111, and if it is a still image, the process proceeds to step S1112.

  In step S1111, the CPU A 101 compares the bit rate included in the metadata acquired in step S1105 with the bit rate included in the metadata having the same unique ID in the mass storage A 109 found in step S1106. As a result of comparing the bit rates, if it is determined that the bit rate of the metadata acquired in step S1106 is low, the process advances to step S1116 to proceed to loop end determination processing without acquiring image data in the storage medium A108. If the bit rates are the same, the process proceeds to step S1112, the next metadata is compared, and if it is determined that the bit rate is high, the process proceeds to step S1113 to enter image data acquisition processing from the storage medium A108.

  In step S1112, the CPU A 101 compares the file size included in the metadata acquired in step S1105 with the file size included in the metadata having the same unique ID in the mass storage A 109 found in step S1106. As a result of comparing the file sizes, if it is the same as the case where it is determined that the file size in the metadata acquired in step S1105 is small, the process proceeds to step S1116, and loop end determination without acquiring image data in the storage medium A108. Go to processing. If the file size in the metadata acquired in step S1105 is large, the process advances to step S1113 to enter image data acquisition processing from the storage medium A108.

  Steps S1113 to S1114 are the same as steps S1107 and S1108, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  In step S1115, the CPU A 101 deletes, from the large-capacity storage A 109, image data and metadata with the same unique ID as the file to which loop processing is applied.

  By the processing from step S1113 to step S1115, the image data acquired from the storage medium A108 is stored in the mass storage A109 instead of the image data stored in the mass storage A109.

  In step S1116, the CPU A 101 determines whether to end the loop processing starting from step S1113. Specifically, it is determined whether the processing in steps S1104 to S1115 has been applied to all the files acquired in step S1102. If all the files have been processed, the process returns to step S1101 to wait for a new storage medium to be loaded. If there is a file that has not been processed, the process returns to step S1103 to process the next file.

  As described above, according to FIG. 11, in the connection mode of FIG. 3C, the photo storage A 100 acquires image data without the same unique ID from the storage medium A 108 from the storage medium used in the digital camera B 100. Can. In addition, image data having the same unique ID can be compared with metadata, image data can be acquired from the storage medium A 108 as necessary, and stored in the large-capacity storage A 109 in place of existing image data.

  Therefore, even if the photo storage A 100 has already received the reduced image data and the metadata via the server device C 104, the photo storage A 100 can directly obtain the non-reduced image data from the storage medium A 108.

  Therefore, even when image data can be transferred by different transfer methods, the photo storage A 100 can prevent transfer of duplicate data, and can hold only preferable image data without having a plurality of image data of different sizes. .

Other Embodiments
In the first embodiment, when transmitting image data from the digital camera B 200 to the photo storage A 100 via the Internet, the server apparatus C 104 is used. In this regard, for example, when the digital camera B 200 and the photo storage A 100 can directly communicate via the Internet, image data and metadata may be directly transmitted.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, a photo storage is used as the information processing apparatus of the present invention. For this, it may be a device with other mass storage, such as, for example, a personal computer tablet smart phone media player.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, a digital camera is used as the external device of the present invention. About this, the apparatus which handles other image data, such as a personal computer tablet smart phone media player, may be used.

  The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. Can also be realized. It can also be implemented by a circuit (eg, an ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

Claims (10)

An information processing apparatus capable of recording a plurality of image data, wherein
Holding means for holding metadata including image data and an identifier associated with the image data;
Acquisition means for acquiring metadata including identifiers of a plurality of image data from an external device;
A first determination unit that determines whether the identifier associated with the image data held by the holding unit is the same as the identifier acquired by the acquisition unit;
The holding unit holds second image data determined to be associated with the same identifier as the identifier associated with the first image acquired by the acquisition unit by the first determination unit If it is determined, it is determined whether the information other than the identifier in the metadata of the first image is the same as the information other than the identifier in the metadata of the second image. The second judgment means to
Image data acquisition means for acquiring image data from the external device;
A determination unit that determines whether to acquire the first image data from the external device by the image data acquisition unit based on the determination result of the second determination unit;
An information processing apparatus characterized by deleting the second image data from the holding means when it is decided to acquire the first image data based on the result of the judgment of the second judging means. The metadata of the image data includes the size of the image data,
2. The information according to claim 1, wherein if it is determined that the size of the first image data is large as a result of the determination of the second determination means, it is determined to acquire the first image data. Processing unit. The metadata of the image data includes the resolution of the image data,
3. If the resolution of the first image data is determined to be large as a result of the determination of the second determination means, it is determined to acquire the first image data. Information processing equipment. The metadata of the image data includes the bit rate if the image data is moving image data,
The first image data is determined to be acquired when the bit rate of the first image data is large as a result of the determination by the second determination means. Information processor as described. Further comprising wireless communication means;
The acquisition unit acquires metadata including an identifier of image data from the external device via the wireless communication unit,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the image data acquisition unit acquires image data from the external device through the wireless communication unit.   6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the communication with the external device is established by the communication unit, acquisition of metadata is started by the acquisition unit.   When the external device communicating via the communication unit has a plurality of image data, acquisition of metadata and the first determination unit for each image data that can be acquired by the acquisition unit 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein acquisition processing of image data is performed based on the determination result of the second determination unit.   When acquisition of metadata and acquisition of image data based on the determination results of the first determination unit and the second determination unit are completed for all image data that can be acquired by the acquisition unit 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: disconnecting communication with an external apparatus by the communication unit. A control method of an information processing apparatus capable of recording a plurality of image data, comprising:
Holding a metadata including image data and an identifier associated with the image data;
An acquisition step of acquiring metadata including identifiers of a plurality of image data from an external device;
A first determination step of determining whether the identifier associated with the image data held in the holding step is the same as the identifier acquired by the acquisition means;
The second image data determined to be associated with the same identifier as the identifier associated with the first image acquired in the acquisition step in the first determination step is stored in the storage step If held, whether information other than the identifier in the metadata of the first image and information other than the identifier in the metadata of the second image are the same or not A second determination step of determining
A determination step of determining whether to acquire the first image data from the external device based on the result of the determination in the second determination step;
And controlling the deletion of the second image data when it is determined to acquire the first image data based on the result of the determination in the second determination step. .   A computer readable program for causing a computer to function as each means of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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